I would like to clarify the situation regarding Aberdeenshire and Aberdeen City Archives, as it seems there may be some confusion over who has what!
Since local government reorganisation in 1996, the historic documents of Aberdeenshire Council along with some for the Moray Council have been administered by Aberdeen City Archives. The records include those of the former counties of Aberdeen, Kincardine, Banff and Moray up to 1975 and Grampian Region from 1975 to 1996. From 1996 the holdings include records from the current counties of Aberdeenshire and Moray.
The records are held over two sites in Aberdeen. Aberdeenshire records are held at the Old Aberdeen House office on Dunbar Street, near the University of Aberdeen. This office also holds some records relating to Aberdeen City, namely school records, valuation rolls and electoral rolls. The historical records for Aberdeen City itself are held at the Town House on Broad Street in the city centre.
To say that Aberdeen City Archives and Aberdeenshire's Archives are mutually exclusive is incorrect. They are both run by the same staff, and though they relate to more than one local authority, they are intrinsically linked. Many of Aberdeenshire's records have corresponding items in the City's collections given their locality and the way they used to be administered. Also, the parish of Old Machar covered areas which are now both inside and outside the city's boundaries!
Information about Aberdeen City Archives, including what they hold for Aberdeenshire, can be found on their website at
www.aberdeencity.gov.uk/archives or they can be emailed at archives[AT]aberdeencity.gov.uk
